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7 questions about wine and nutrition answered

NOWFE wine pour: Photo of the Day

Red wine and white wine have about the same amount of carbs and calories. A five-ounce pour of red or white has approximately 125 calories and four to eight grams of carbs. (Photo by Kathleen Flynn, NOLA.com l The Times-Picayune)

Are sulfites responsible for wine headaches? Is white wine higher in carbs than red? And what's the difference between "organic" and "made with organic grapes"? These are just a few of the common questions and misconceptions that surround wine and its impact on our health.

To get to the bottom of these and other wine-related questions, I talked with Lou Preston, owner of Preston of Dry Creek Farm and Winery in Sonoma, California – a rustic, funky welcoming place, and a perfect spot for an outdoor picnic – and Preston's winemaker, Matt Norelli.

Preston: A farm that's certified organic means that no conventional herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers are used, and there's an increased emphasis on using renewable resources and conserving soil and water.

When the entire winemaking process is certified organic, the wine can be labeled as organic wine. However, if the grapes are organically grown, but the wine has elements that aren't allowed in organic wine, it can be labeled only as "made with organic grapes."

Norelli: An example is that most of our wines contain added sulfites, which aren't allowed in "organic" wine, but adding a limited amount of sulfur dioxide is allowed when labeling wine as "made with organic grapes."

Q: And the difference between organic wine and wine that's certified biodynamic?

Norelli: If a wine is certified biodynamic, it also has to be certified organic. Biodynamic is everything that organic is, and more. Biodynamic practices treat the farm as its own entity, as a living organism that's self-contained and self-sustaining. A biodynamic farm depends minimally on imported materials, so that anything used on the farm comes from the farm itself; the waste of one part of the farm becomes the fuel for another.

Preston: The ultimate goal is that nothing from the outside is brought into the farm. The grapes are cultivated with the nutrients from within the farm, so they reflect the personality of the farm.

Norelli: It's an intensive certification. We've been "practicing" for quite some time, doing everything biodynamically for years, but we'll just officially receive the Demeter Biodynamic Certification, likely later this year.

Q: Why are sulfites so commonly used in wine? And are sulfites responsible for the dreaded red wine hiseadache?

Norelli: Wine naturally contains trace amounts of sulfites, but it also contains a lot of bugs, bacteria, and yeasts that "attack" the wine and cause it to have off-odors and off-flavors. Even just a small bit of added sulfites helps to create microbial stability that slows the oxidation of wine, giving it a longer shelf life.

It's usually not sulfites that cause a wine headache. White wines, and a variety of other foods like dried fruits often contain as many sulfites, yet they generally don't cause a reaction.

Q: So if it's not sulfites, what is it in red wine that causes headaches in sensitive individuals?

Norelli: The level of alcohol in wine, or tannins (antioxidant-rich compounds in the skins and seeds of grapes) is more likely to blame.

Older wines tend to be less tannic, so look for older vintages if you're prone to headaches. And it's possible that decanting red wine can potentially help to minimize headaches and hangovers, since decanting releases a variety of volatile compounds.

Kimball: And of course, staying well-hydrated and keeping wine intake moderate (defined as not more than one daily for women and two for men) is key to minimizing wine headaches.

Q: So how about the white-wine-is-high-in-sugary-carbs misconception?

Kimball: The reality is that, ounce-for-ounce, red wine and white wine have about the same amount of carbs and calories. A five-ounce pour of red or white has approximately 125 calories and four to eight grams of carbs.

And for those who aren't big fans of red wine will be happy to know that both red and white wines – as well as all types of alcohol – are linked to a decrease in heart disease. And a moderate intake of red or white wine is linked to a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, as well.

Red wine does have even more health benefits, however, thanks to the antioxidants and phytochemicals in the grape skins and seeds that are soaked in the barrels with red wine.

Q: Do biodynamic wines, organic wines, and wines made with organic grapes have more antioxidants and greater nutritional benefits than conventionally-made wines?

Kimball: It's highly likely, especially since the soil in organic or biodynamic farms is so rich in vitamins and minerals, and the grapes aren't treated with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. But ultimately a wine's antioxidant and nutritional benefits will depend on the individual farming practices, grapes, and wine-making process.

Norelli: I look at selecting wine just like I do meat or produce -- I don't want a whole bunch of chemicals sprayed on my food, nor my drink.

The bottom line: Any type of wine provides health benefits, though red wine does have even more antioxidants. If you're watching carbs and calories, you're fine with white as well as red wine, but just like anything else, portion control is key. And biodynamic wines and wine made with organic grapes are potentially higher in antioxidants and nutrients, and without a doubt are better for the environment and the farm's ecosystem.